As of December 18th, the number of people passing through the WanzaiPort this year exceeded 1.39 million, setting a new record since the port opened in 1984. This makes it the second-largest waterway passenger port in China in terms of passenger traffic. Behind this impressive figure is nearly 40 years of continuous efforts from the boundary checkpoint at the port, which has witnessed and contributed to both its own growth and the broader development of the times.

Wanzai Port is located on the banks of the Haojiang River, with the bustling Inner Harbourof Macao just across the water. From 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM every day, ferries filled with passengers shuttle between the two locations, quickly transporting residents of Zhuhai and Macao. From the days when passengers had to undergo manual inspection, to the current "fast-track" clearance by simply swiping their cards, WanzaiPort has been a symbol of the shared vision for seamless travel and connection between Zhuhai and Macao residents.

73-year-old Zhang Shuangding recalls the early days of the port's opening: "Back then, people carried baskets full of flowers and crowded onto simple wooden boats to cross the river. It was very dangerous, especially in windy or rainy weather. Later, we switched to metal boats, and conditions improved significantly." WanzaiPort has also undergone significant upgrades in both its facilities and services. From handling just 100,000 passenger crossings in 2001, the port's traffic has now grown to the scale of millions.

In recent years, with the increase in the number of ferry trips at WanzaiPort to 62 per day and the extension of operating hours until 10:00 PM, the workload of the boundary checkpoint has significantly increased. Deputy Chief of the Wanzai boundary checkpoint, Zhou Ming, explained, "Many passengers working in Macao often rush to make the last ferry in order to earn a bit more income. They are always in a hurry to 'beat the clock' when crossing the border. Seeing their satisfied smiles makes all the hard work worthwhile."

WanzaiPort not only serves passengers traveling between the two regions but also plays a key role in supporting major public infrastructure projects. For example, the first two-way, eight-lane sea bridge in Macao, which opened in October 2024, was successfully built with crucial support from the Wanzai boundary checkpoint. The checkpoint implemented innovative methods such as "land-air joint inspections" to streamline operations. This approach helped create a green channel for more than 300 vessels transporting over 600,000 tons of construction materials, significantly improving the efficiency of the border clearance process.

Meanwhile, the Wanzai boundary checkpointplays an important role in supporting cross-border logistics and maritime fisheries transportation. In recent years, the checkpoint has inspected over 10,000 small vessels traveling between Hong Kong SAR, Macao SAR, and the Chinese mainland annually, ranking first in China. "Through methods such as advanced vessel notifications and pre-inspections, we have achieved zero wait times for vessel clearances, helping to create an efficient logistics hub for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area," said Chu Chunyi, instructor of the second duty team.

While ensuring the smooth operation of the port, the checkpoint also plays a critical role in safeguarding maritime security. During Typhoon "Sura"last year, two fishing boats ran aground, and checkpoint officers quickly responded to the emergency, successfully rescuing eight fishermen and bringing them ashore to safety. Deputy Director of Wanzai boundary checkpoint, Lu Ning, stated: "We regularly coordinate with maritime agencies from Zhuhai and Macao for joint patrols, enhancing visibility and ensuring the safety and stability of the port's waters."

Source: Lingnan on the Cloud

湾仔口岸年内出入境人员查验量突破139万人次

截至12月18日，湾仔口岸年内出入境人员查验量突破139万人次，创下自1984年开通以来的新纪录，成为全国客流量第二大的水路客运口岸。这一数字背后，是口岸边检站近40年来不懈努力与时代发展的共同见证。  

湾仔口岸位于濠江之滨，对岸是澳门繁华的内港。每日7时至22时，满载旅客的轮渡穿梭两地，将珠澳居民快速送达。从人工查验的鲜花渡江，到如今“刷证”秒速通关，湾仔口岸承载着珠澳居民“双向奔赴”的美好愿景。

73岁的“花婆”张双定回忆起口岸初开时的情景：“那时大家挑着担子装满鲜花，挤在简陋的小木船上渡江，刮风下雨时非常危险。后来换了铁皮船，条件改善了不少。”湾仔口岸也在设施升级和服务优化中，从2001年的10万人次通关量攀升至如今的百万规模。  

近年来，随着湾仔口岸渡轮班次增加至每日62班，通关时间延长至22时，边检工作量大幅提升。湾仔边检站副队长周铭介绍：“许多在澳门务工的人常常‘卡点’入境，为了多挣一份收入，他们争分夺秒赶最后一班船。看到他们满意的笑容，我们的辛苦就值得了。”  

湾仔口岸不仅服务于两地旅客，也为重大民生工程贡献了力量。澳门首条双向八车道跨海大桥于2024年10月通车，湾仔边检站为其顺利建成提供了重要保障。边检站采用“陆空联查”等创新模式，为300余艘次船舶载运超60万吨建筑材料开辟绿色通道，大大提高了通关效率。  

与此同时，湾仔边检站还在服务跨境物流和牧海渔业运输方面发挥重要作用。近年来，该站年验放港澳小型船舶超1万艘次，居全国首位。“我们通过船舶提前预报、后台预检等模式，实现船舶零等待通关，为粤港澳大湾区建设打造高效物流枢纽。”执勤二队教导员褚春毅表示。  

在保障口岸通畅的同时，边检站也时刻守护海域安全。去年台风“苏拉”期间，两艘渔船搁浅，边检民警迅速出动救援，成功营救8名渔民上岸避险。边检副处长卢宁表示：“我们与珠澳海上职能部门定期巡查，提高警力可见率，确保口岸水域安全稳定。”  

文｜记者 李旭 通讯员 许嘉伟
译｜林佳岱
英文审校｜邹晓华